T E A C H I N G T H R O U G H T H E A R T S

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VIAThe ezine for educators, administrators and advocates of arts integration

A Quarterly Ezine Issue No. 2 - April 2011

Putting the “Personal” in PLC’s: The Professional Development Issue

Roll Call! The latest websites and resource list for arts integration topics and ideas.Page 9

A New Attitude on Professional DevelopmentThe power of positivity on PD.Page 6

Professional Development Means Developing as a ProfessionalAn Administrator’s ViewPage 321st Century Professional Development ProposalMeeting the 21st century challenge with our teachersPage 5

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Education Closet

Have an Idea to Share?Contact me to submit a piece for a future issue

All About ViaFind out about the vision for this ezine and the authors behind it.Page 2

Image credit: lindapemik.wordpress.com

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W E L C O M E !

Welcome to VIA - the ezine that is designed for arts integration teachers, administrators and advocates! This monthly ezine will strive to provide you with useful resources, updated programs and conferences and a multitude of activities, programs and networks that can further arts integration in your school, district or state. You will find so many wonderful teacher, administrators and artists converging throughout these pages - it’s hard to contain it all! Each article will also feature the writer or organization contact information in order to further our outreach and community with one another.

So....why the name VIA? The best simplified definition I can find for arts integration is “teaching the content areas through the arts” and when you look up synonyms for the word “through”, via is an accurate portrayal. We use the arts as a lens for filtering content knowledge via connections, via technology highways and via teaching artists and educators alike. “Via” is a thoroughfare through it all and so it is fitting that this ezine be a way to gather this information through our multitudes of research and resources.

This issue is all about Professional Development. It’s about how we grow, connect, develop and personalize the meaning of our own professional learning. I am delighted to be able to highlight and share 3 new guest authors with various perspectives and insights into what it means to grow as a professional. Because we never stop learning!

Susan Riley, editorwww.educationcloset.com

April’s AuthorsSusan Rileywww.educationcloset.com

Susan Riley is an author, editor and distributor of VIA ezine. In addition, she write regularly on arts integration and current education topics at her blog www.educationcloset.com where she

advocates for working together to educate together. In addition to her blog, she also had written an ebook “The Keys to Making Arts Integration Work” which can be purchased from her website. Susan is a

music teacher, an arts integration site coordinator and a teacher development liaison at her public elementary school in Maryland and uses these experiences to influence her ideas and research. In addition to her education expertise, she is also a family portrait photographer, wife and mother to 18 month old Emma. You can contact Susan through her website or via email at sriley81@hotmail.com for more information.

Michael Smithwww.principalspage.com/theblog

Michael Smith is a school superintendent in Oakland, Illinois. He may well be the

only superintendent who blogs (at least with a sense of humor).

He has written for education magazines and is often quoted as an educational “expert” (which he isn’t).

You can follow him on Twitter @principalspage or on his website: www.principalspage.com/theblog. He is also a featured education blogger on The Huffington Post.

Angela Maierswww.angelamaiers.com

Angela is the founder and President of Maiers Education Services, a consulting firm headquartered in Clive, Iowa. Her

company provides just-in-time consultation services to schools, organizations, and individuals seeking to use technology and social media to leverage human capital and production goals.

Under Angela’s direction, schools and businesses within and outside the education industry are implementing the proven practices that accelerate their desired outcomes.

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Jessica Balsleywww.theartofed.com

Jessica Balsley is a positive educator and motivated leader in the field of Art Education. She teaches K-5 Art and facilitates

professional development for the art department in her district. She is a self starter as a professional blogger for Art Educators at "The Art of Education" where she also teaches graduate

courses in a variety of topics designed specifically for arts educators. Jessica is recognized for her exceptional ability to effectively use leadership strengths to teach, motivate and inspire both students and teachers to perform at optimal levels both individually and in a team. Connect with Jessica:theartofed@gmail.com@artofeducationwww.theartofed.com

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As I look back on my 16 years in education, I’ve seen many changes.

My hairline.

My age.

My weight.

My paycheck.

All have gotten bigger (I’ve notice there’s a lot more bad than good).

The biggest change deals with expectations.

There’s ever increasing pressure from the state and federal government to improve student achievement.

And this attitude shows no sign of slowing down.

One day, I will retire (I hope… I hope… I hope) and at that time it’s likely I will barely recognize public education.

It will be a shell of its former self.  Not necessarily in a bad way, just in a different way (it’s a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation).

One of the changes within this big change is the way educators approach professional development.

When I started out as a teacher, professional development was almost an afterthought.

It was something you did, but not

Professional Development Means Developing as a Professional.— Michael Smith, Principal’s Pageimage credit: dignityofchildren.com

“One day, I will retire....and it’s at that time it’s likely I will barely recognize public education”

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It was a day off from school and if you learned anything at the meeting… great.  And if you didn’t learn anything… great.

It was win-win because of the day out of school.

Did I mention you didn’t have to go to school on this day?

To summarize, you got out of it what you put into it.

Which in far too many cases wasn’t much.

A decade later, quality professional development is a key component of a successful school district.

Curriculum, special education, and technology are constantly changing.  In 2011, we need teachers and administrators to change with them.

This takes professional development and lots of it (and money… never forget money).

I used to encourage new teachers to ask about benefits when they interviewed.

Now I tell them to ask about ongoing professional development opportunities.

I guess when you think about it, these are benefits.

For the teacher.

For the school.

And most importantly, for the students.

This was written for VIA. The only quarterly eZine for administrators, teachers and advocates of arts integration! VIA provides research, resources and articles on arts integration that are vital to every program’s success.

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I have heard from art teachers in my own community and from all around the country, that professional development can be a waste of time. Professional development doesn’t always meet your needs in the ways that you would like. You WISH professional development was more relevant to your content area. Too often teachers in specialized areas such as Art, Physical Education and Music do not have the opportunity to participate in professional development that relates to their specific content area. They are required to participate in meetings or in-services with grade level teachers with topics that focus on math or reading. The topics covered offer very little learning for these teachers in regards to their specialized area.

As a result, specialist teachers are left feeling as though their content area is not valued and become un-motivated to participate in professional development opportunities. This topic is one I have taken to heart greatly. In fact, my entire graduate thesis explored content specific professional development (or lack thereof) and it’s relationship to attitudes.

This research resulted in one clear result: Teacher attitudes are dramatically affected by the types of professional development they experience. Art teacher attitudes improved when they had the ability to meet as a content group and collaborate with other art teachers. They were more confident to teach the assigned curriculum, and one educator summed up her feelings on professional development by saying, “This year, when I meet with the other art teachers I feel there is a purpose

to what I do. Our time is enriching, exciting and a confirmation of my own teaching plans.” When given the opportunity to collaborate together, art teacher attitudes on professional development increased dramatically, from a 50% positivity rate to a nearly perfect 100% positivity rate.

However, one may stop and think: Why is attitude so important? I would argue that attitude is the most important factor when getting any group of educators to feel motivated about a new initiative in education. Without such motivation, the teacher will not take the learning back and apply it. Passion and positivity are two things that are underrated when looking at the efficacy of educators in today’s changing world.

While conducting this research, a conversation emerged between a professional colleague and I. This colleague found it fascinating that my research focused on attitudes, as she, as an administrator, had never thought of attitude when planning and implementing professional development. Big Mistake! In her past experience, professional development was influenced by what educational research showed would most impact student achievement, regardless of teacher attitudes. Can you see my face becoming flaming hot? Two year’s worth of research basically being discounted? My findings indicated that the best educational research in the whole world doesn’t matter if you don’t have buy-in from the teacher. It just won’t. If teachers enter and leave Professional Development with poor attitudes, and without ownership in the content and approach, the new learning will never positively translate to their teaching.

Specialists, much like classroom teachers, want to know that something works well in their particular field. They want to feel a sense of security from a group of like-minded professionals, and they want to bring the joy and passion back into their classroom Content specific professional development provides this and more for art educators. If art educators want to be great, we need to stop sitting on the sidelines and take charge of our own professional development. We need to take ourselves seriously and act professionally if we are going to be seen as professionals and experts in our field. How many of us have encountered quality art education professional development since we finished college or graduate school? No many. All of this is about to change.

This research has inspired me as a professional and has lit a fire inside myself to explore expanding my own career in a way that can positively change professional development for art teachers. And that is just what I am doing.

Starting in June of 2011, I will be offering graduate courses online specific to art educators through my website, The Art of Education. This is an exciting opportunity for art teachers online that has never been done before. Graduate Courses with The Art of Education will give you content specific learning opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. Finally, you will be in the driver seat when it comes to your professional development and earn graduate level credit in the process. Feel free to contact me to learn more - I can’t wait to get started!

A New Attitude on Professional Development

Jessica Balsley, www.theartofed.com

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Nothing has promised so much and has been so frustrating wasteful for teachers and leaders as the thousands of workshops and conferences that led to no significant change in practice.

-Micheal Fullen-

Great teachers help create great students, agreed?  In fact, research shows that an inspiring and informed teacher is the single most important school-related factor influencing student

achievement. So, what helps teachers become great? What equips them in

helping students reach their highest potential?  The easy to say professional development,but unfortunately we have all

experienced what Micheal Fullen is speaking of.

When I think of my own teaching and learning, the most influential element of my professional development comes from

my personal learning network (PLN). I read blogs, track them with RSS feeds, and use a variety of social networking tools to create my PLN, I then use what I have discovered to enhance my work with students and teachers. My PLN has become daily nutrition, influence, energy, and strength for my brain and my spirit.

When I talk to schools about this, I often hear the following:

A 21st Century Professional Development Proposal — Angela Maiers, www.angelamaiers.com image credit: mjgds.org

“One of the most powerful things you can do for students, is create a culture of learning and

collaboration with your teachers. “

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• That's great, but we just do not have the time

• My teachers are not comfortable with technology

• I have my own "network" at school, why do I need to connect with someone I my never meet

• Why bother…the sites are blocked anyway

• I just don't get all that blogging and web stuff

• RSS – what????As leaders, you can influence all of that!  One of the most powerful things you can do for students, is create a culture of learning and collaboration with your teachers. Here's what's possible: (Link to this video if you want)

http://blip.tv/file/1262079 video

And Here's the ROI:

• Teachers become more aware - of new research, new strategies, new educators, and new ideas that can enhance and impact their teaching and learning

• Teachers become connected- they develop learning networks as they meet teachers with similar interests and issues

• Teachers become empowered – as they take control and responsibility of their own professional growth.

• Teachers become model - With first hand experience on how to operate in a 21st century learning environment, teachers become equipped to demonstrate and model

learning behaviors and strategies for their students

• Teachers become confident-Teachers feel appreciated and respected for their contributions and knowledge and become confident and more competent in their own teaching practice

• Teachers become a connected community – teachers who share, learn, and connect become leaders inside and outside of their classrooms

• Teachers become Learners – the most important requirement to being a 21st Century educator – don't you think?

Are these the same results that you get after staff in-service days? If not, here are some ways you might begin to help your staff create their own PLN's:

1. Explore PLN as a Professional Development Tool – Check out this video from Carl Anderson as he explores setting up a PLN as a personal and professional development tool.

2. Get your teachers reading RSS feeds! Setting it up is easy with the video from Common Craft entitled:  RSS in Plain English.The RSS reader is the raw material for building a PLN. 

3. Find some Great Blogs to Read - there are lots of places to look, but this will give you a running start: Education Alltop, Top 50 Edubloggs, Edublog Award Winners.

4. Share - Set aside time each week for teachers to meet and discuss the latest and greatest gems from the Blogosphere. These sessions can be formal

at a staff meeting or more informal in small groups or grade levels.

5. Prepare to be Amazed- When teachers take control of their professional growth and learning- there is nothing that can not be accomplished.

Creating a PLN does not replace traditional professional development. There is a time and place for In-service days and careful selection of outside expertise. But the most valuable professional development embedded in the on-going life of the school.

As you get your PLN's up and going, here are a few additional links to enhance their power and productivity:

-PLN Yourself

-My Twitter Engagement Formula

-Building a Digital Locker

Working together to make professional development personal enables us all to be more effective and effected by the change we seek.

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In a recent IBM research study, 1500 CEOs were asked what they think is the most important leadership quality in the next five years.  60% of respondents stated creativity.

Creativity!  Not intelligence, or perseverance, or even personality traits.  Nope.  Creativity made the top of the list.

That's because creativity forces you to use your intelligence at a different level.  Creativity requires perseverance, patience and persistence.  Creativity provides empathy and understanding.  And Critical Creativity (being able to critique the creative process and continually making aesthetic judgments) leads to leadership. 

Obviously, the world job market landscape is changing.  We are no longer going to be able to survive on a factory model.  The future of a thriving economy will be in what has yet to be discovered.

And that, requires creativity.

So let's shift our mindsets from standardized testing and using the factory models in our schools and embrace the new world of creative problem-solving and project-based learning.  Because these are the ways that our students will be required to think and respond in the 21st century.

Maybe we should post new classified ads:

Want a job?  Creative exam required.  Problem solving skills, out-of-the-box thinking required.  Being able to work with others on long-term projects is mandatory.  New ideas are always welcome.  Incredible opportunity for advancement.  Ready to apply?  Submit all application materials to your local school district. Leaders needed.

- Susan Riley, www.educationcloset.com

Creativity Gets You the JobResearch suggests that the key to economic growth in the next 10 years will be

creativity. Who knew?

R E S O U R C E S G U I D E

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MENC Eastern Division Conference

Music Education For Life

March 31-April 3, 2011Baltimore, MDBaltimore Convention Center

Keynote Speaker Scott SchulerChair of MENC

The 2011 Conference schedule is available.

Amtrak discounts are available for the Eastern Division Conference.

The exhibitor booth applications are still available.

CETA Learning About Arts Integration - Jun. 27-29

For Arts Organization Staff, Teaching Artists, Teachers, Principals, and School District Administrators

The Kennedy Center’s 2009 and 2010 conferences, Arts Integration Schools, examined ways to develop an arts integration school. Based on overwhelming requests, this new 2011 conference explores the “how” of arts integration, rooted in the Kennedy Center’s 30 years of experience in professional learning for teachers, and provides many strategies that can make arts integration a part of every teacher’s approach to teaching.

When: Monday, June 27- Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Where: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.

Registration is available for individuals or teams.

Conference registration is limited to 130 attendees. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Deadline

Friday, April 15

Contact

For more information, contact Michelle Carney at MLCarney@kennedy-center.org or (202) 416-8842.

Resource Links

Please visit some fantastic resources to help guide and inspire your arts integration movements.

Learning is Messy

http://learningismessy.com/blog/

Sing Imagination

http://singimagination.wordpress.com/

Arts Edge

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators.aspx

Arts Education Partnership

http://www.aep-arts.org/resources/integration.htm

Arts Every Day

http://www.artseveryday.org/Educators/detail.aspx?id=212

The Teachers LoungeResources, Links and Upcoming Events for Arts Integration